CHAPTER 54: MAKE YOUR FATHER PAY

"So why didn’t you tell me this earlier?"

"I was scared. And I thought maybe if I could protect you, if I could give you a good life here, it would be enough."

"Nahh, you didn’t protect me, Mom. You allowed Dad to do what he wanted, to control my life like it was his, and allowed Cassandra to get away with so many things I lost track."

"I know, my dear, and I’m sorry."

I took a deep breath. "How didn’t I see all these?" I asked no one in particular.

"How could you have? He’s very good at maintaining appearances."

"Like he did with you."

"Like he’s probably trying to do with you now, with this murder charge."

The thought sent chills down my spine. "You think he’s behind the private investigator’s death?"

"I think your father is behind a lot of deaths, Layla. I think he’s far more dangerous than either of us ever imagined."

"But why would he kill Kendall?"

"What was he investigating?"

"He was investigating..." I sighed. "My father. He said he was looking into what happened..."

"Then he was getting too close to the truth."

"Oh God. This is all my fault. If I hadn’t hired him..."

"No." Her voice was suddenly stronger. "Don’t you dare blame yourself. This is your father’s fault. All of it."

"What am I supposed to do with this information? Who’s going to believe me?"

"You have the evidence now. The documents I hid will prove everything."

"But will they be enough?"

"They have to be. And Layla... there’s something else."

"What?"

"Your husband. Axel. I think he knows more about your father than he’s telling you."

"What do you mean?"

"I don’t know much about them; I think he’s been protecting you from something."

"Protecting me, how?"

"I don’t know. But I think... I think maybe he married you for the same reason I stayed with your father for so long."

"Because he was scared?"

"Because he knows something everyone else doesn’t."

I felt a confusing mix of anger and understanding. "So that’s why he’s lying to me?"

"He’s trying to keep you close."

"But that doesn’t make it right."

"No, it doesn’t. But maybe it makes it understandable."

I wanted to ask more questions, to understand everything about my biological parents, about Axel’s motivations, and about the full extent of my father’s crimes. The revelation that I was adopted was rewriting everything I thought I knew about myself.

"Layla, I need you to promise me something."

"What?"

"Promise me you’ll make him pay for what he’s done to both of us. For what he’s done to your biological parents’ memory. For what he’s done to you."

"Mom, I don’t know if I’m strong enough..."

"You are. You’re stronger than you know. Stronger than I ever was."

But suddenly, her grip on my hand began to loosen, and her breathing became more laboured.

"Mom? Are you okay?"

"I’m tired, sweetheart. So very tired."

"Maybe I should call a doctor."

"No. No doctors. They’re all in his pocket anyway."

"Then what should I do?"

"Just... stay with me for a moment. Let me look at you."

I could see her struggling to keep her eyes focused on me. Something was wrong. "Mom, talk to me. What’s happening?"

"I think... I think he knew."

"Knew what?"

"That I was awake more than I was letting on. I think he... I think he increased the dose."

Horror washed over me. "What are you saying?"

"The medication they gave me this morning. It was different from the usual."

"Different how?"

"I... I don’t think I can explain."

"Oh God, Mom. We need to get you to a hospital."

"It’s too late for that, sweetheart."

"No, it’s not. We can still..."

"Layla." Her voice was fading. "Listen to me. Use those documents. Promise me," she whispered urgently. "Promise me you’ll find out the truth and expose him."

"I promise."

"And Layla... be careful who you trust. Even Axel. Even though I think his intentions are good, he’s keeping secrets from you for a reason."

"What reason?"

"I don’t know. But find out before you trust him completely."

Her eyes were starting to close, and panic seized me.

"Mom, stay with me. Keep talking to me."

"I love you, Layla. You were the one bright spot in my life, even if you weren’t biologically mine. You were more my daughter than..."

Her voice trailed off, and suddenly, she went quiet. Her eyes, which had been focused on me with such intensity, began to grow distant.

The sickening realization hit me like a truck.

"Mom? Mom?!" I shook her gently, then more urgently. "Wake up! Mom!"

But she was gone.

I couldn’t cry. My body refused to. My chest ached, my throat burned, but my eyes felt completely dry, as if all the tears had abandoned me. I sat there for what felt like forever, holding her hand even though it had gone limp and cold.

Then I heard footsteps echoing faintly down the hall. My pulse spiked. I didn’t know if it was a nurse, Cassandra, or my father, but instinct screamed at me to run.

I leaned down one last time and whispered, "I’ll keep my promise, Mom," and forced myself to let go.

The footsteps were getting closer. My heart thudded as I slipped out the side corridor, moving quickly, silently. I didn’t stop until I was outside, gasping for breath.

The ride back to the house was a blur. My hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly they hurt. Over and over, my mother’s last words echoed in my head: be careful who you trust, even Axel.

When I finally pulled into the driveway, the lights were on. My chest tightened the moment I stepped inside.

Axel was there, standing in the foyer, leaning against the wall like he’d been waiting all day. His jacket was off, sleeves rolled up, and his eyes shadowed.

The moment he saw me, he straightened. "Where were you?"